Type-writing machine.



No. 682,759. Patented sept. l7, I90l.

c. & n. H. SEARS. v

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 12, 1900,)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETERS c0. FNOTOLITHOU WASmNOTON. n. c.

No. 682,759. Patented Sept. l7. I901. C. 8. B. H. SEARS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 12, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE "cams PETERS co. PHOTO-LITHO wAsl-nuomw. o. c.

UNITED STATES CHARLES SEARS AND RICHARD H.

SEARS, on CLEVELAND, onto; SAID RICHARD H. SEARS ASSIGNOR TO SAID CHARLES SEARS.

TYPE-W-RITI NG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 682,759, dated September 17, 1901.

Application filed November 12, 19

writing machines,,of which the Hammond.

machine is perhaps the most familiar example, in which a type wheel or segment is turned various distances in one direction or the otherby the operation of finger-keys and intermediate mechanism to bring the desired type on its periphery to the impression-point.

' The ultimate object of several improvements (of which the present invention is one) is to produce a machine of this class whose work will resemble letter-press printing.

The objects of this invention are to provide a construction adapted to print an indefinite number of characters without enlarging the diameter of the segment or segments, to properly ink that character and only that character which is about to be printed, and to produce the accurate alinement of the characters printed.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out definitely in .the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of so much of the type-writing machine as is necessary to illustrate the invention. Fig.

2 is a plan view of the type-segments when.

one of them has been moved to bring a character thereon to the impression-point.

vation of so much of the mechanism as em-.

bodies the present invention when theparts are in their normal position.

of the mechanismshown in Fig. 5 and'show? Fi n: 3 is a rear edge viewv of the middle part 3f the three type-segments employed. Fig. lisv Fig. 6 is a Simi-' lar kind of View Showing only theupper part 00. Serial No. 36,180. (No model.)

ing said mechanism when one of the characters is being printed.

Referring to the parts by letters, B repre- Sents a vertical cylindrical stud which is fixed to the framework of the machine and upon which the cylindrical sleeve C is rotatably mounted. This sleeve has at its lowerend a flange c, with which suitable mechanism of familiar form, operable by finger-keys, engages to turn the sleeve various distances in one direction or the other. Verticalmovement of this sleeve upon the stud B is prevented by a shoulder 12, whichin the form shown'is the lower end of a sleeve 17', which is fastened to the upper end of the stud. plurality (three are Shown) of type-carriers D D D are rotatably mounted upon this ments of skeleton form and consist of the; curved rim d, the arms 01, and the hub d Each has also a forwardly-extended stoparm (1 On the outer periphery of the curved rimof each segment and arranged in a single row the type d are secured or formed. It will be noticed, however, by reference particularly to Fig. 3 that there is a blank space d in the middle of the curved rim-that is to say, in that part of said rim which when the segments are in their normalpositions-is in what will be called the vertical .impression-line. t r p One or more inking-rollers f, which may bemade-of the same non-absorbent composition used in making printing-press 'rollers are mounted in the end of a curved arm F, which 85 is pivoted to the framework of the machine. This arm is of such length that the rollers move up and down in this vertical impressionline, and contact with any character on either segment which is in that line. Aninking o platen His secured to a suitable supportabove the segments, and the rollers f roll upon this platen when the arm F is swung upward, and thereby said rollers take a fresh supply of ink.

A vertically-movable bar E, having vertical 5 Slots e, is secured to the frame A of the'machine bymeans of screws e, passing through said slots. At its upper end this bar has four horizontal arms e which loosely embrace the sleeve C and .lie, respectively, above, below, ,109

stud. These carriers, as shown, are seg-,

and between the three segments, thereby maintaining the proper relationship between said segments. When this bar E is in its normal position, the upper segment D is in the impression-line. The lower end of this bar E has a foot a which rests upon the end of a lever J secured to a rock-shaftj, which is rocked different distances by the manipulation of either of the two shift-keys j or j shown in Fig. 1. This rock-shaft, arm, and shift-keys, as shown, are of well-known form, and any other mechanical devices for lifting the bar E may be substituted for them. By lifting the bar the proper distance either of the two lower segments will be brought into the impression-line.

The sleeve 0 has a short tongue 0, which lies normally in a vertical groove d in the hub of the upper segment, and thereby the rotation of the sleeve compels the corresponding rotation of said segment. A corresponding vertical groove d is formed in the hubs of the two lower segments, and said tongue will always lie in the groove and that segment which is in the impression-line. A corresponding notch is cut through the two intermediate arms 6 whereby they may move up and down without coming in contact with said tongue. As before stated, that segment which is in the impression-line is rotated when the sleeve 0 rotates by the engagement of said tongue with the groove in the hub of that segment. The stop-arm d of the segment below that one which is in the impression-line lies normally in a verticalnotch a in the curved frame member A, whereby the rotation of said segments is prevented. The rotation of the segment next above the one on the impression-line is prevented by the engagement of the clamping-lever T (which will be presently described) in the notch d in the flange (1 In machines of this class the depression of any key-lever first operates the mechanism by which the segments in the impression-line is turned and the proper character brought to the impression-point. It then releases the impression-hammer M, which flies forward and forces the paper against said character. The mechanism operated by the finger-key whereby the sleeve 0 maybe turned and the mechanism for releasing the hammer and for causing it to make its impression-stroke and for drawing it back to its normal position after it has made such stroke is not shown in the drawings, the same being no part of the present invention, and such mechanism may be of well known construction. The arm which carries the inking-rollers is intended to be connected with the hammer, and said arm will be swung from its normal position, in which the rollers are in position shown in Fig. 5, up to the position shown in Fig. (i as the hammer is making its impression-stroke. The connection between the hammer and this roller-carrying arm is not herein shown; but they may be substantiallylike the mechanism for this purpose shown in the pending application, Serial No. 724,379, filed July 19, 1899, of Charles Sears.

From the foregoing statement itis apparent that when the inking-rollers move they will ink that character and only this character which has been brought to the impressionpoint and which is about to be printed and that they will not and cannot touch and apply ink to any other character on either segment. This is because only one segment is moved at one time from its normal position and because the segments which have not moved have no character on them in the plane traveled by said rollers. This is a matter of great importance in a machine intended to accomplish the results above referred to namely, of producing results which resemble letter-press printing-for if the type to which ink is applied were not immediately printed from the type would become gummed with the ink and would not make the sharp clear impressions which it is desired they should make.

It is obvious that an indefinite number of segments may be employed, each mounted as those are which are shown. Each segment, like those shown, will have a single horizontal row of characters and will have no character in its middle point-that is to say, in that part which is in the vertical impressionline when the segment is in its normal position.

In order to obtain the proper alinement and position of every character printed, mechanism is provided which will clamp the segment which is in the horizontal impression-line after it has been moved to bring the proper character to the impression-point and will hold it firmly While said character is being printed. Theclamping device and its operating mechanism are shown as follows: An arm R is fixed to the framework of the machine, and it has secured to its rear end a narrow finger r. The upper surface of this finger is in substantially the same plane with the under surface of an inwardly-extended flange d on the inner periphery of the segment in the impression line. Similar flanges are formed on each of the other segments, and through each flange a notch d is formed. These notches when the segments are in their normal positions are in the same vertical plane with the finger r, and therefore the segments may be moved up and down without interference from said finger. A post 7" is fastened to the same arm R, and to it a clamping-lever T is pivoted. This lever is directly over the finger r and is ofv such width that it may also pass through the notches 01 in said flanges. A bart is pivoted to this lever, and

it extends downward and has a vertical slot t in its lower end, which slot embraces a pin it on an arm h, which is secured to the hammer or to the rock-shaft If, to which the hammer is fastened, and this arm It extends forwardly,while the hammer extends rearwardly from said pivot. A contractile coil-spring t is fast at one end to said'pinand at the other end to a pin 25*, carried by said bar. When the hammer is in its retracted position, the pin h engages with the endof the slot t, and

' thereby the clamping-lever T is lifted. 'When,

however, the hammer is released and moves forward on its impressionsstro'ke, this aim it moves downward and, acting'through said spring 2?, draws thefbar t downward and in turn drawsdown theclamping-lever T,-Whereby' the flange d"v is pinched .or clampedcbetween said finger rand.clampingdeverT.

The construction and operation of this'mech anism may be clearly understood from the foregoingv description and reference to Figs 5and 6. Fig.5 shows said clamping mean-1 anism and all of the other' mechanismin its normal condition. Fig, 6 sh'ows'the same when the middle segment has beenraised to theimpression-line and'ha's been clamped and the impression of thecharacter at the impres sion-point is being .made upon the paperf through the action ot 'the hammer. The lever T projects into the notches d in the flanges d of the segments above that onewhich is in the impression-line, and thereby the moVement of such segments out positions is prevented.- 7

Having described our invention, we claim- 1. In a type-writing machine, a plurality'of of their normal independently-oscillating type-carriers, and mechanism for moving said carriers to bring any type on anycarrier to the impressionpoint, combined with a'movable inking-roller which will ink the one type, and only the one type, which is at the impression-point, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a type-writing machine, a plurality of movable type-carriers which are independ ently rotatable upon a common axis, each carrier having on its outer periphery a single row of type and a blank space'which is in'the vertical impressiondine when the carrier is at rest in its normal position, mechanism for moving said carriers axially to bring any car- 'rier'into the horizontal impression-line, and means for turning that carrier only which is in the horizontal impression lin'e to bring any type thereon to the impression-point, combined with an inking-roller which is movable in the vertical impression-line whereby it contacts with that type, and only that type,which is at the impression-point, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. In a type-writing machine, a plurality of type-carriers which are independently rotatable upon a common axis, each having on its outer periphery a single row of type and a in the vertical impression-line, and .an ink ing-platen with which said inking-roller contacts during its said Inovement, substantially as and for the purpose specified, I

cylindrical member, and a plurality of type- "carriers which are rotatably mounted on said member, and are also movable longitudinally thereon. to bringany carrier into the imprestype-writing-machine, a rotatable sion line,jcombined with means for connecting the carrier in the impressiondinewith said r 5.. its type-writing machine, a plurality of d nn en yi ota e l typegme r h ing longitudinaIly-grooved hubs, and a rotatable cylindrical memberon which said segmQfi I mou ed S e tojbe' ta' e and longitudinally movab1e,which rotatable mom rotatable member, substa'ritiallyas and for 'the purpose specified; I

berfhasa short tongue} adapted to "engage in' dinally upon said member to-caus'e the groove in anyseginent-hub-to embrace: said tongue, substantiallyas and for thepu rpose'specified.

on and havinga short tongue, combined with a plurality of type-segments havinglong'itw dinally-grooved hubs which are mounted on,

said sleeve, combined with means for moving said segments longitudinally. upon said sleeve to cause the groove in any hub to embrace pose specifiedsaid tongue, substantially as and forthe'pur the groove of anysegment-hub, combined with means for moving said segments longitu- In? a ypew t ngmac n i a fi v cyline 1 drical stud, a sleeve rotatablymounted there- 7. In a type-writing'machin'e,a rotatable cylindrical member having a short external I05 tongue, and a plurality of type-segments having longitudinally grooved hubs, which are mounted upon said cylindrical member, combined with a vertical movable member having arms to extend under the hubs of said'seg-' inents and support and move the same, substantially as and for the'purpose specified. 1i 7 8. In a type-writing machine, acrotatable 1* and are movable longitudinally thereon to bring any type-carrier into the horizontal i ma I pression-line, means forconnecting said ro p i tatable member and that type-carrier which is in the said impression-line, stop-arms secured to said several typecarriers, and a frame having a recess into which'some of the stopcylindrical member, a pluralityof type-carriers which are mounted upon said member, v i 7 arms project to prevent the rotation of their the'purpose specified. 3

9. In a type-writing machine, an oscillating type-carrier adapted to be turned tobring any type thereon to the impression-point, combined with a clamping device for holding said 7 character while the impression of said character is being made, substantially as and for;

the purpose specified.

associated carriers, substantially as and for 10. In a type-writing machine, an oscillating type-carrier adapted to be turned to bring any type thereon to the impression-point, said 55 by said hammer for.operating said clamping members, substantially as and for the pur- .pose specified.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a rotatable member, a plurality of type- Io segments mounted to oscillate and to move longitudinally upon said member, each segment having a notched annular flange, means for moving said segments to bring any one into the impression-line, and means for mov- 15 ing any segment to bring any character thereon to the impression-point, combined with a fixed finger and a cooperating clamping-lever, both of which are narrower than the notches in said flanges, and mechanism for operating '20 said clamping-lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of an oscillating type-segment having an annular flange, a fixed clamping member,

25 a movable clamping member, a rocking arm rigidly connected with the hammer and having a crank-pin, a bar connected with the moving clamping member and having a slotted arm, which embraces the said crank-pin, and a spring connecting said rocking arm and bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In a type-writing machine, a rotatable cylindrical member, a plurality of type-carriers which are rotatably mounted upon said member and are adapted to be moved longitudinally thereon to bring any carrier "into t-heimpression-line, and mechanism for so moving said carriers, combined with means for automatically connecting said rotatable member with that carrier which is in the impression-line, and mechanism which prevents the turning of the carriers which are not in the impression line, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SEARS. RICHARD H. SEARS. \Vitnesses:

E. L. THURSTON, E. B. GILCHRIST. 

